Starting player rule for Best of 7/9: For the first game the starting player is determined randomly. After this game the starting player is changed in every game - ALSO AFTER A TIE ! (Note: The last player starting has to create the next game and activate "other players start") till the final 7th/9th game (at 3-3 in bo7 or 4-4 in bo9), if this happens. For the final game the starting player is also determined randomly - IN THE CASE THE FINAL GAME ENDS TIED THE NEXT GAME(S) WILL BE PLAYED WITH ALTERNING STARTING PLAYER UNTIL ONE PLAYER WINS A GAME.

...and...

PROBLEMS

No player is allowed to open a thread concerning problems with their opponent. All information have to be sent to the TDs. The TDs will not post any threads explaining their decisions and will not answer to any threads opened for this purpose. Any player who does violate this rule will face a warning from the TDs including the loss of their next single game (random choice if still in more than one tournament). The second case including the same player results in the immediate expulsion from all tournaments. Players who open similar threads after their expulsion or their drop out will not be allowed to enter the next years championship.

...and this new one

MATCHES NOT PLAYED TILL DEADLINE

A match not played until deadline is ruled as forfeit for both players (i.e. next round opponent gets a bye) per default. If a player has problems to schedule his match, he has to address the TDs BEFORE the deadline - the TDs will not discuss anything afterwards.

The TDs added a new rule concerning matches not played till deadline - please be aware of that:

MATCHES NOT PLAYED TILL DEADLINE

A match not played until deadline is ruled as forfeit for both players (i.e. next round opponent gets a bye) per default. If a player has problems to schedule his match, he has to address the TDs BEFORE the deadline - the TDs will not discuss anything afterwards.

Probably, we both played too fast, around 10 minutes per game, not enough for in-depth thinking. I seldom remembered the colors dea had played

Overall, I was very pleased with the way things developed
My ticks were fine, I got the colors I needed (only in game#1 I couldn't play 2 black, where dea played 2+2+4 which I wanted all).
I think, even though we disturbed us heavily, I fulfilled my tickets in all games - seldom for Swizz

Very decisive was our tunnel plays IMHO. dea had to add 2 cards at least 4 times, I had this bad luck only once. Very often I didn't need to add any card at all, which contradicts my previous Swizz experiences

Many close games, Rui got more points on the boards most of the time, I got longest most of the time.

Last game looked like a clear win for me, Rui only laying blocks and 6s and 5s all over the board without really disturbing me. But in the end, he fulfilled two small ticks and made a fine loop to end the game fast with a 15 route + 2 remaining cards vs my 16 route. There were a couple of possibilities for a 16 or 17 route for him, but luckily he didn't have the right colors - puh

SMC FINALVal vs Angel62:5 (1 tie)
Val was a very tough opponent for me, as in EMC I was almost surprised how well he played.

Overall, I probably had the better ticks, Val had to take "filler ticks" (not planning to fulfill them) two or three times.

In "fighting games", where we tried to get longest and 6s/5s with only small ticks, I had no advantage at all. Val played the 6s in very good tempo all the time, it was annoying

At 0:1, I took an expensive ticket combination and fulfilled it with much "belly ache"
Val started blocking me but stopped after (probably) thinking that he had done enough.
Having found a working tactic, I repeated it until 4:1, being lucky to get the right tickets for it.
The last three games were very scrappy on my part, and I was releaved to get over the line

IMHO, the general standard of play in Swizz is very low and there isn't any good player on the map yet (like on the US board in early 2005). The top Swizz players seldom play each other, and there is only one small tournament per year.
I have no idea, if the Swizz map is as interesting to play competitively as the US map, and I'm afraid I will never know
(only a big Swizz event like NC or league could help IMHO)